Nixon graduated from Duke University with a BS in 1952 and from North Carolina State College with an MS in 1954.[2] Both degrees were in geology. He served in the United States Navy until 1962[3] as a naval aviator and helicopter flight instructor.[4] Nixon served on his brother's presidential campaigns, including as co-chairman in 1972.[1] He was an expert on global energy use and spent much of his professional life studying how people use natural resources. He was an advisor to companies on these issues.[4]

In 1974, Nixon was the first witness for the defense in the Maurice Stans and John N. Mitchell conspiracy trial.[5] He contradicted the testimony of two of the government's chief witnesses. Later that year, the staff of the Senate Watergate committee disclosed additional information to support the charge that Charles Rebozo gave or lent part of a $100,000 "campaign contribution" to President Nixon's personal secretary Rose Mary Woods, and to Edward and Donald Nixon.[6]

From 1971 until his death, Nixon was the president of Nixon World Enterprises, Inc., an international consulting service based in Washington state.[7][8] Nixon also taught as an assistant professor of naval science at the University of Washington and also worked as a helicopter flight instructor.[1]

Edward Nixon was the last surviving member of the five Nixon brothers, in the wake of brother Richard's death in 1994. He was the longest-lived of the Nixon brothers.

Edward Nixon married Gay Lynne Nixon June 1, 1957.[9] The couple lived together, for a time, in the Seattle-area suburb of Alderwood Manor, Washington; Gay worked as a schoolteacher at Woodway High School, as well as Meadowdale Junior High School in Edmonds.[10] They were married for 56 years, until Gay's death on January 20, 2014.[11] He had two daughters - Amelie Peiffer and Elizabeth Matheny.[4]